u.s. citizens are arrested each year under similar circumstances. u.s. embassy staff visit, provide a list of attorneys and monitor the progress of their case. john's case is proceeding through the mexican justice system. does that make you feel better? >> it's devastating. it's basically no help at all. one thing in that letter, i didn't open that letter until this morning. they specifically state that he is being chained because of his military experience. so for the people that have been asking me why do you think he's chained and now we know. >> brian: well, what do you say to the state department now after getting that letter essentially taking the side of mexico and their strict gun laws? >> i just can't get over it. you know, at the heart of all of this, in the letter from the ambassador to the congresswoman, he states that all firearms are illegal in mexico, which isn't true. hunters take weapons into mexico all the time. johnny made an administrative mistake. he didn't register. he should have registered the gun at an embassy in the united state